The most recent amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act became effective two years ago. Those amendments called for new studies and rulemaking, on issues ranging from verification of MAOP/MOP, potential changes to the identification of HCAs and/or Class Locations, new construction oversight, water crossing standards, and more.
Continue Reading Pipeline Law: The Year Ahead
MAOP/ MOP
PHMSA Issues Advisory Regarding Reporting Exceedances of MAOP Plus Allowable Build-Up
By Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP on
In response to Section 23(a) of the 2012 amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act, PHMSA issued an advisory notifying natural gas transmission operators that pressure exceedances above maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, must be reported on or before the fifth day following the date…
PHMSA Issues Advisory Regarding MAOP/MOP Records Verification
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In response to NTSB Recommendations and the 2012 amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act, PHMSA has issued guidance to operators to ensure that the MAOP and MOP of all liquid and gas pipeline segments are supported by records that are “traceable, verifiable and complete.” This Advisory marks the first time that PHMSA has issued guidance…
PHMSA Proposes Revisions to Incident Report and Annual Report Forms, Including MAOP Data Collection
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In response to NTSB Recommendations and the 2012 amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act, PHMSA is preparing to request OMB approval for revisions to its Incident Report and Annual Report forms for transmission and gathering pipeline systems. With regard to both gas and liquid Incident Report forms, PHMSA proposes revisions to collect additional information regarding…
President Obama signs Pipeline Safety Act reauthorization bill into law
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President Obama signed H.R. 2845, the “Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011” into law on January 3, 2012. Among other pipeline safety requirements, this bill doubles the maximum civil fine for all safety violations; requires operators to confirm, through records or testing, the MAOP of certain untested gas pipelines in populated…
House agreement reached on HR 2845 Amendment
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On December 7, 2011, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, working with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate, reached an agreement regarding an amendment to HR 2845, “The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011.” Most notably, the amendment would require verification of MAOP for all transmission lines located…
PHMSA publishes NPRM regarding miscellaneous changes to Parts 191, 192, 195 and 198
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Posted in Administrative Rulemaking, Reporting Obligations
In order to correct errors, address inconsistencies and respond to rulemaking petitions, PHMSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding miscellaneous changes to the pipeline safety regulations. The proposed changes would revise requirements regarding construction inspections, leak surveys for certain gathering lines, qualifying plastic pipe joiners, mill hydrostatic tests and notifications for pipe operating at…
NTSB reports on findings and recommendations regarding San Bruno Incident
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The NTSB held a hearing and issued a synopsis of its investigation into the San Bruno rupture that occurred on September 9, 2010, including 28 findings and 29 new recommendations directed to DOT, PHMSA, CPUC, and PGE. The NTSB is currently making final revisions to its report. Click here to view the synopsis and summary…